ZEELAND, MI — Zeeland Public Schools has named Leslie Rindfliesch as the new director of Zeeland Quest (Z-Quest), the district's year-round, kindergarten through eighth-grade school.

Rindfliesch will take over the leadership role from Judy Tuttle at the school, which occupies a wing of Roosevelt Elementary, 175 W. Roosevelt Ave. Tuttle, who will continue in her role as principal of Roosevelt, has led both Roosevelt and Z-Quest simultaneously since Z-Quest’s inception in 2012.

“We are excited about this development and what it means for the future of Z-Quest,” said Jon Voss, assistant superintendent of administrative services. “Judy did a fantastic job developing a program and Leslie can build off that success.”

Enrollment for 2014-15 is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 11. Rindfliesch will be available to welcome prospective families and assist with registration, according to the district. Tuttle will mentor Rindfliesch to ensure a seamless transition.

Rindfliecsch, a fourth- and fifth-grade multi-age classroom teacher at the project-based Z-Quest, has been a teacher for 14 years. She has worked in Zeeland for six years teaching kindergarten through eighth grade during this time, with the majority of her career being upper elementary and middle school.

Students are housed in grade groups at Z-Quest: K-2, 3-5 and 6-8. They participate in learning activities throughout the day within their groups, with the ability to move to higher-level math and/or reading groups as needed. All students also participate in project and service-based learning experiences. The school has 93 students enrolled, up from 86 in 2012-13.

“The needs of the students are our top priority,” Tuttle said. “I am excited for the program and I know that Leslie holds the perfect blend of talent and determination to serve the program and district well. She will be a fantastic leader.”

Rindfliecsch's new role will incorporate some of her teaching responsibilities, while a portion of each day will be dedicated to her director role. She received her bachelor's degree in elementary education from Central Michigan University and master's degree in educational leadership from Saginaw Valley State University.

While its sessions are aligned with ZPS, ZQuest runs a balanced year-round calendar — in session for approximately six weeks and off for one week. Families can learn more about the school by calling 616-748-3050 or visiting the website.